Supplying ink to ink transfer members



lune 18, 1935. G. E. PELTON 2,005,503

SUPPLYING INK TO INK TRANSFER MEMBERS original Filed Feb. 25, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 1 :llllllllllllll llllll lllllullvllllu .imm 18, i935. G. E. PELTON 2,005,503

SUPPLYING INK TO INK TRANSFER MEMBERS Original Filed Feb. 25, 1954i 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ffl atente dime id, 1935 SUFFILYIING 'F0 MNM TRANSFER MEER@ George lil. Felton, Foplrins Farm, Fairfax County, Fa.

iliriginai application February 23, 119341, Serial No. 712.6741. lllvivided and this application @otober 3, 193i, Serial No. 726,22@

20 `@Claims This invention relates to means for supplying ink to ink transfer members, such, for example, as typing ribbons and the like. This application is a division of my pending application No. '712,674

5 filed February 23d, i934.

The objects of the invention are to provide simplified and improved mechanism for applying ink to a ribbon; also to provide a mechanism of this kind in which a roller is employed with which the ribbon cooperates and which has a portion adapted to frictionally engage the ribbon to ensure rotation of the roller by the ribbon, and another portion carrying ink` to the ribbon; also to provide a roller driven by the ribbon and a disk for applying ink thereto which are arranged to rotate cc-axially; also to provide means of improved construction for supplying ink to a disk of this kind.

Other objects of my invention will more appear hereafter.

This invention may be applied to a typewriter or type mechanism of any kind employing a writing ribbon or transfer member.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary top plan View of a typewriter having a ribbon inking mechanism embodying this invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional elevations thereof on an enlarged scale on lines 2-2 and 3 2 respectively of Fig. 1.

Fig. #i is a section on line il-L Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in section, showing a wick supporting means of modified construction for use in connection with my improved fully f ink supply means.

Fig. 6 is a top plan View of an inking mechanism of modifled form.

Fig. i is a sectional elevation '4ii, Fig. 6.

Fig.V 8 is a fragmentary topv plan view of a type writer provided with another form of ink supply mechanism.

Figs. 9 and 10 arev sectional elevations thereof n an enlarged scale on line Q-t and i-iil respectively of Fig. 8.

In the accompanying drawings, for the purpose of illustrating certain embodiments of my invention, iii represents the frame of a typing machine, and i i the platen which carries the paper or other material upon which the writing is to be done. i2 and i3 represent the usual ribbon spools upon which the writing ribbon HJ may be wound and unwound during operation of the machine. The writing or printing ribbon, in passing from one lspool to the other, passes through the usual thereof on line (Cl. ligt-Nil) ribbon guide or vibrator i5, and moves through said vibrator into and out of the writing position in which the ribbon is touched, struck, or pressed by type. Any other means for using the ribbon to .transfer ink therefrom to the writing surface may be employed.

Inking mechanisms for the writing ribbon are preferably arranged at opposite sides of the point at which the type strikes the ribbon, or at opposite sides of the vibrator, if one is used. The two inking mechanisms are identical in structure except that one is the reverse of the other to operate at different sides of the machine and only one description of the inking mechanism is, therefore, given.,

The drawings illustrate a type of inking mechanism by means of which ink is applied to the ribbon without having the ribbon pass between two members, one of which is pressed toward the other. In Figs. 1 to 4, a roller 230 is shown mounted to turn about the same axis with an ink transfer disk 235i, the ribbon lli passing around a pair of guide pulleys 232 and 233, which in the construction illustrated, are arranged so that the ribbon contacts at one time with approximately half of the periphery of the roller 226i. The roller 222 is preferably provided with flanges as illustrated so that the up and down movement of the ribbon id by means of the vibrator I will in no way interfere with the proper contact of the ribbon with the cylindrical face of the roller 220. This roller is preferably also provided with a ball bearing 236 of any suitable form, and in this iigure, a tubular wick 231 is employed extending into an ink reservoir 23S and having an enlarged flange 228 contacting with the ink transfer disk 239. Gears 2li@ and 2M are mounted coaxial with the roller 23@ and the Wick 23T respectively to insure the rotation of these two parts in correct relation to each other to lcause ink to be transferred from the flange portion 228 of the wick to the ink transferring disk 23 Il. 2li2 represents a. cap removably secured ony a neck portion of the reservoir v229 through which the ink in the reservoir may be replenished. The ink reservoir may be mounted on a part of the frame Hl of the machine; and the roller 230 may be mounted by means of a central post 2&3 on a subbase 2M which may, for example, be arranged in a recess in the upper face of the frame lli of the machine and secured in place on this frame by means of a set screw 225 or other means, so that the roller 230 can be easily removed, 'if desired, and replaced by another roller. Similar- 1y, the wick 231 is mounted on a sleeveor tube arranged to rotate about a post 266, the lower end of which has a threaded engagement with a to deposit ink on a different portion of the ribbon.

In the construction shown in Fig. 5, another manner of supplying ink to an ink transferring disk is illustrated, as well as means for supplying different kinds of ink to a multicolored ribbon. In this construction, a roller 256 is illustrated having disks 251 and 252 arranged coaxial therewith in suitable recesses in the roller, and preferably, the roller is also provided intermediate of its ends with a groove or recess 253 arranged at' the middle portion of the ribbon so as to avoid transfer of inks from the two different colored portions of the ribbon by means of the cylindrical surface of the roller 256.

In this construction, the disks 261 and 252, instead of contacting directly with wicks or other ink'supply means, receive their ink from intermediate disks ?.55 and 256, which as shown are mounted on an arbor or sleeve 251 rotatable about a central post 258. A gear 259 mounted on the roller 256 meshes with a gear 266 mounted on the arbor 251 so as to insure correct rotation of the roller E) with reference to the disks 255 and 256.

Inks may be supplied to the disks 255 and 256 in any suitable or desired manner. In the construction shown for this purpose, a pair of upright wicks 253 and 266 are shown which extend through wick tubes or conduits 265 and 266 to suitable ink reservoirs (not shown). extend upwardly into two apertures in a wick housing 261, to which the upper ends of the wick conduits or tubes 265 and 266 are suitably secured, for example, by means of threaded connections. 'Ihe upper part of the rhousing 261 is provided with a pair of horizontal passages in which horizontally extending wicks 268 and 269 are arranged in such a manner that the inner portions of these horizontal wicks contact with the upper ends of the wicks 263 and 264, so that ink may pass by capillary action from the wicks 263 and 264i to the horizontal wicks. Each of the horizontal wicks preferably extends through a short wick tube 216 within which the horizontal wick preferably fits rather snugly so as not to be readily movable endwise relatively to its tube. 'I'he outer surface of each short wick tube 210 is preferably provided with screw threads adapted to engage with corresponding threads 211 in the horizontal apertures of the wick housing 261, and a lock nut or sleeve 212 also engages the outer threaded surface of the wick tubeV 210. Consequently, it will be seen that upon releasing the lock nut or sleeve 212, the short wick tube 210 may be turned to adjust the wick contained therein toward and from its disk 255 or 256. This makes it possible to adjust the wick tube relatively to its disk, so that the correct amount of ink may be fed to the disk, and if desired, a horizontal wick may be moved out of contact with its disk to interrupt the supply of ink thereto. For

These wicks example, if in a red and black ribbon, the operator of the machine finds that very little use is being made of the red portion of the ribbon, it may be desirable to interrupt the feed of red ink to this part of the ribbon for a period of time and this can be done by moving the wick out of contact with its disk. The lock nuts or sleeves 212 insure the maintaining of the wicks in their correct positions.

In Figs. 6 and 7, I have illustrated a somewhat i diierent type of inking mechanism driven from the ribbon spools. In this type of hiking mechanism, the pressure roller for pressing the ribbon against the ink transferring disk is entirely omitted. In this construction, the ribbon is guided around a roller having the ink transfer disk coaxial and rotatable therewith In the particular construction shown, a roller 266 is provided having a disk 221 suitably mounted thereon coaxially therewith. Preferably, the disk is of approximately the same diameter as the roller. The disk may be arranged on any desired portion lengthwise of the roller, depending upon the portion of the ribbon 16 between its edges to which the ink is to be supplied and it may be desirable also to space the disk from the surfaces of the roller which engage the ribbon. In the particular construction shown in Fig. 7, the ribbon engaging periphery of the roller 200 is divided, so that a portion 262 thereof is arranged above the disk. The disk is preferably centrally arranged in a groove or recess 2113 arranged in the roller 206, so that the passage of ink from the disk to other peripheral portions of the roller will be prevented.

In order to make sure that the ribbon 14 will come in contact with the periphery of the disk 261 during its movement toward or from a spool 236, one or more guide pulleys or rollers 265 and 2136 are preferably provided which are so arranged that the ribbon will contact with a large portion of the cylindrical surface of the roller 266, and these pulleys also introduce a certain amount of friction, which in turn produces tension of the ribbon 16, so that the ribbon will be drawn by this slight tension into contact with the surface of the roller 262, and with the disk 2111.

Ink may be supplied to the disk 211| in any suitable or desired manner, and in the construction in Figs. 6 and '7, a hollow or sleeve type of wick 211i is provided, a portion of which extends into an ink reservoir 211 so as to dip into the ink contained therein. 'I'he upper portion 212 of the wick is of larger diameter and in the form of a disk or flange of the main portion 216 of the wick and is arranged to contact with the disk 26| -per end of the arbor on which a gear 218 is also mounted. Ball bearings 219 may also be provided for journalling the roll 200, and a gear 220 is provided on this roll and meshes with the gear 218 of the wick arbor. Any other means for mounting the revolving parts in correct relation to each other may be employed, if desired.

In this construction, the ribbon spool 206 is provided at its periphery with gear teeth 222 arranged to mesh with an idler gear 223 suitably journalled on the frame member 216 and the base 224 thereof. The gear 223 also meshes with a gear 226, Fig. 7, secured on the roller 200 for turning the roller 2d@ and its wick when the ribbon spool is turned.

ln the construction shown in Figs. 8 to 10, the inking mechanism is mounted on a suitable base plate or bracket 330, which may in turn be secured to the frame i0 of the typewriter or other mechanism, and on a' cover 33|! which is securedV to the plate 33d. Any of the inking mechanisms illustrated could, of course, be mounted in a similar manner under suitable cover, and in the construction shown, the inking mechanism includes a roller 332 having two disks ttt and ttt, which cooperate with intermediate disks 335 and 3% respectively. 33? represents a housing for two Wicks :i3d and 33d, the latter Wick being shown out of contact with its intermediate disk 33t to interrupt the feed of ink. The wick housing 331i may be 'similar in construction to the housing shown in Fig. 5. Guide pulleys 3ft@ and 3M are also arranged between the base plate 33@ and the cover 33t. In this case, the yroller 332 and the intermediate disks are mounted on ball bearings and are connected by means of gears M2 and 3413. In this case, the roller 332 has no flanges to confine the ribbon in correct relation thereto, but

screws or pins Std and 3135 secured on the cover titl are arranged so as to engage respectively the upper and lower edges of the ribbon.

ln. all of these constructions, the pressure roller is omitted. This is advantageous to impart a slight amount of tension on the ribbon so that the ribbon will fit snugly against the cylindricai surface of the roller carrying the ink transferring disk, and consequently, a certain amount of fric\y tion is introduced by` means of the guide pulleys and by guiding the ribbon around the combined roller and disk. It is,however, desirable to operate this roller and disk together with any intery mediate disks or rotary wicks that may be employed, in such a manner that these parts willv rotate with the minimum of friction to insure a continuous rotation of these parts by the ribbon, and this in turn insures a continuous supply of ink to the ribbon. The tension applied to the ribbon by the use of one or more guide pulleys also tends to straighten out any buckled, wavy, or indented portions of a ribbon so that even such portions are stretched snugly across the cylindrical surface of the roller carrying the ink transferring disk. By guiding the ribbon about one or more pulleys into correct relation to the roller carrying the disk, the ribbon will be pressed by a slight pressure against the roller and the disk, and since it is preferable in this type of inking mechanism to employ a very thin ribbon, such slight pressure is sumcient to cause the ribbon to fit itself tightly around the portion of the roller with which it contacts, thus insuring continuous contact of the ribbon with the ink transferring disk.

In all of these constructions, it is preferable to provide the cylindrical surfaces of the roller with knurled or other roughened or irregular surfaces for the purpose of increasing thev friction between the roller and the ribbon. This tends to insure rotation of the roller by means of the ribbon, which insures a continuous feed of ink to the disk and in turn to the ribbon.

It is obvious that numerous other modications of this invention may be devised.

This inking mechanism is, of course, intended to be used with a very'thin fine writing ribbon which is not depended upon to carry a reserve ink supply. The fact that the ribbon itself is thin enables the same to conform itself more readily to the outline of the rollers carrying the inking disks, so that by slight tension, theA thin ribbon will be uniformly urged against the edge of the ink disk and will be uniformly/inked thereby. It is, of course, not essential to this invention that a very thin ribbon be used but such type of ribbon is much more desirable because of the tine quality of writing obtained therefrom.

In addition to the control of the ink by the thickness of the edge of theink carrying disks shown in the various figures, the control of ink supply to the ribbon -can also be edected by varying the capacity of the wicks to absorb ink, and consequently, the Wicks may be made of diderent materials. For example, wicks may be made of highly absorbent wool, of spun silk threads, or of other materials having different absorptive properties, and the wicks may also be impregnated with various materials for reducing the absorptive properties thereof. lfhe amount of ink may, of course, also be varied by varying the number of disks carrying ink to the ribbon as well as by the thickness or width of the disks.

rThe inking mechanisms described have the advantage that no pressure means are necessary for urging the ribbon into contact with the disk. This tends to increase the life of the ribbon, which, if made of long bered silk, may be extremely tough and durable, and furthermore, this type of inking mechanism is less expensive to construct and maintain or service, since there are fewer parts to get out of order.

in these constructions, the rollers themselves act to limit the extent to `Which the ribbon will be pressed against the disk, and at the same time the cylindrical surface of the roller has a tendency to cause the ribbon to conform itself into a partial cylindrical surface, which tends to make more positive the engagement of the ribbon with the ink transferring disk. The tension on the thin ribbon also tends to draw the same into the space between the cylindrical surface and the disk, and this in turn assures a continuous contact of the ribbon with the disk, ensuring uniform inking of the ribbon. By reducing the number of parts required to effect the inking of the ribbon, the friction of this type of inking mechanism, and the consequent pull on the ribbon may be less than in the other inking mechanisms, in cases where such restricted pull on the ribbon is desired. This type of pressureless inking device also has the further advantage that it is equally effective on ribbons of any thickness, without requiring adjustment of any parts. The construction of the roller and disk whereby the surface of the roller is separated from the disk by grooves or spaces makes it possible to apply to the ribbon such small quantities of ink as are carried by the thin edge of the disk and also prevents the ink from spreading across the cylindri- 'cal surface of the roller, which would interfere 1. In a typing mechanism having a ribbon, the l of a roller with which said ribbon combination contacts and which is rotated by contact with said ribbon, a disk arranged co-akially with said roller and rotated by said roller and contactingwith said ribbon to deposit ink thereon, and

means-for supplying ink to said disk.

2. In a typing mechanism having a ribbon, the

lili

combination of a roller with which said ribbon contacts and which is rotated by contact with said ribbon, a disk arranged co-axally with said roller and rotated by said roller and contacting with said ribbon to deposit ink thereon, and a wick for supplying ink to said disk.

3. A roller for a typing mechanism adapted to contact with a ribbon and having a cylindrical surface with which said ribbon is adapted to engage to rotate said roller by contact with said ribbon, said roller also having a peripheral portion adapted to contact with said ribbon and spaced from said cylindrical surface to engage said ribbon for depositing ink thereon.

4. The combination of a roller for an inking mechanism for ribbons, said roller having a frictional cylindrical surface engaged by the ribbon for turning said roller and an ink carrying portion also adapted to engage the ribbon, and means Afor depositing ink on said ink carrying portion for transfer to said ribbon.

5. A roller for an inking mechanism for ribbons having spaced cylindrical surfaces adapted to cooperatewith the ribbon for imparting rotation to the roller by the ribbon, an ink carrying disk arranged between said surfaces and spaced therefrom and of approximately the same diameter of said surfaces to contact with said ribbon to deposit ink thereon.

6. The combination of a typing mechanism including a ribbon, spools on which said ribbon is wound and one of which is rotated by said typing mechanism to advance said ribbon past a printing position, a roller having a cylindrical surface arranged to engage a portion of said ribbon located between a spool and said printing position, means for guiding said ribbon to contact with a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of said roller, and means for supplying ink to a portion of the cylindrical surface of said roller for transfer to said ribbon.

7. In an inking device for typing mechanisms having an ink transfer ribbon, the combination of a roller having a cylindrical surface with which said ribbon contacts for turning said roller, an ink transfer disk coaxial with said roller and arranged to contact with said ribbon, and a rotary wick contacting with said disk for supplying lnk to said disk for transfer to said ribbon.

8. In an inking device for typing mechanisms. having an ink transfer ribbon, the combination of a roller having a cylindrical surface with which said ribbon contacts for turning said roller, an ink transfer disk coaxial with said roller and arranged to contact with said ribbon, a rotary member in rolling contact with said disk, and means for supplying ink to said rotary member for transfer to said disk, said disk .in turn transferring ink to said ribbon.

9. In an inking device for typing mechanisms having an ink transfer ribbon, the combination oi a roller having a cylindrical surface with which said ribbon contacts for turning said roller, an ink transfer disk coaxial with said roller and arranged to contact with said ribbon, a rotary member in rolling contact with said disk, means for supplying ink to said rotary member for transfer to said disk, said disk in turn transferring ink to said ribbon, and a driving connection between said roller and said rotary member.

10. In a typing mechanism havingl a ribbon, the combination of a roller with which said ribbon contacts and which is rotated by contact with said ribbon, a disk arranged coaxially with said roller and rotated by said roller and contacting with said ribbon to deposit ink thereon, means for supplying ink to said disk, and means for applying tension to the ribbon to draw the same into contact with said roller and disk.

l1. The combination `of a typing mechanism including a ribbon, spools on which said ribbon is wound and one of which is rotated by said typing mechanism to advance said ribbon, a roller having a cylindrical surface arranged to engage a portion of said ribbon, a disk arranged coaxially with reference to said roller and alsoy -coaxially with reference to said roller and also adapted to contact with said ribbon while passing around said roller, means for supplying ink to said disk, and gearing to positively rotate said disk when said spool is rotating.

13. In an inking device for typing mechanisms having an ink transfer ribbon, the combination of a roller having a plurality of peripheral surfaces spaced from each other and with which said ribbon contacts for turning said roller, a disk contacting with one of said surfaces of said roller, and means for forming a narrow fllm of ink on said disk for transfer to said last mentioned surface of said roller and from said last mentioned surface to said ribbon. f

14. In an inking device for typing mechanisms f having an ink transfer ribbon, the combination of a roller having a plurality of peripheral surfaces spaced from each other and with which said ribbon contacts, a disk contacting with one of said surfaces of said roller, means for forming a narrow lm of ink on said disk for transfer to the last mentioned surface and from said surface to said ribbon, and a driving connection between said rollerand said disk located at a distance from the portion of the roller contacted by said ribbon, the other surface of said roller forming a frictional driving surface for rotating said roller from said ribbon.

15. In an inking device for typing mechanisms having an ink transfer ribbon, the combination of a roller having cylindrical frictional surfaces with which said ribbon contacts for turning said roller and another surface spaced from said fric-, tional surfaces by grooves and also contacted by said ribbon, a rotary ink carrying member in contact with said other surface of said roller to transfer ink thereto, means for placing a narrow lm of ink on Said member, and a driving connection between said roller and said rotary member and spaced from said surfaces.

16. The combination of a typing mechanism including a ribbon, spools .on which said ribbon is wound and one of which is rotated by said typing mechanism to advance said ribbon, a roller having a plurality of substantially cylindrical surfaces arranged to engage a portion of said ribcylindrical surfaces of said roller for transfento l said ribbon, and gearing connecting a spool and said roller for positively rotating said roller.

17. The combination of a typing mechanism including a ribbon, means for advancing the rib bon step by step past a printing position, a roller having a plurality of substantially cylindrical surfaces arranged to engage a portion of said ribbon, means for guiding said ribbon to contact with a portion of said cylindrical surfaces of said roller, means for supplying ink to one of said cylindrical surfaces of said roller for transfer to said ribbon, and positive means for driving said roller, said means being actuated by a portion of said typing mechanism 18. The combination of a typing mechanism including a two color ribbon, means for advancing the ribbon step by step past a printing position, a roller having afplurality of substantially cylindrical surfaces arranged to engage portions of said ribbon, means for guiding said ribbon to contact with said cylindrical surfaces of said roller, said roller having la groove facing the l,juncture of the two color fields of said ribbon to avoid contact of said juncture with said roller,

said roller also having grooves each facing one of said color fields, parts in said grooves extending into positions to contact with said ribbon,

and means for supplying ink to said parts, corresponding to the color of the portion of the ribbon contacted by said parts.

19. In an inking device for applying ink directly to an ink transfer ribbon, rotating means for transferring ink thereto in a continuous line of a width not greater than the height of the type of the typing machine on movement of the ribbon through the typing machine, and movable means controlled by the tension of the ribbon and directly associated with the inking means for maintaining the ribbon in a transverse stretched condition, both said means cooperating with the same side of said ribbon to perform their respective function.

20. In an inking device for typing mechanisms having an ink transfer ribbon, the combination of a roller having a cylindrical surface of rela.- tively large area with which said ribbon contacts for turning said roller, and another surface of materially less area also contacting with said ribbon and spaced from said rst mentioned surface sumciently to prevent ink from passing from one surface to the other, and means for supplying ink to said other surface for transfer to said ribbon:

GEORGE E. lPELTON.v 

